Embrace the Shake
— Samantha Felder

I recently had a FaceTime conversation with Brittany Dunnum, a speech therapist in Lewiston, Idaho, who works with Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients and utilizes methods developed by the nonprofit Parkinson Voice Project. I met her in Washington, D.C.,…

I often get asked if a person can drive after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. The answer is yes. Some are able to drive for many years after a diagnosis. However, we must consider the safety of everyone…

As Parkinson’s patients, we’re often told that we should exercise regularly. Exercise offers us many physical and mental health benefits and may help slow disease progression. A variety of exercise programs and classes have been designed specifically for…

Spring is finally here, and when I think spring, I think baseball. Just like in baseball, where each team has a roster of players, Parkinson’s patients have their own teams of professionals in their lineup. Let me tell you…

When a person advocates for themselves, they can achieve great things. I recently had a conversation with an advocate for the Parkinson’s Foundation, Ann Kopf. Ann lives in Milwaukee and works with different staff members in the foundation…

Do you see or hear things that others don’t? According to the Parkinson’s Foundation, 20–40% of Parkinson’s patients say they’ve experienced hallucinations or delusions. The foundation’s website states, “Hallucinations are when someone sees, hears or feels something that…

The word “advocacy” alone can send people running for the hills. I’ll admit, when I first decided to advocate for those of us with Parkinson’s disease, I was a little scared. Because I’m only 31 (and look 16!), I…

I’m back! Not just figuratively, but also literally. I recently took some time off to get my health in check. I was in the process of changing medications, and my neurologist had warned me that I might have side…

“I like to move it, move it. I like to move it, move it. I like to move it!” These dance tune lyrics, interpreted in the animated children’s movie “Madagascar,” reflect an unfortunate reality for many Parkinson’s patients. Some…

When a person is diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at a young age, many thoughts swirl through their head. Once the dust starts to settle, they’ll likely start thinking about their career. Will they be able to continue working? If…

Dear Parkinson’s disease (PD), Wow, I can’t believe that we’ve been together for nearly 10 years. Our relationship has been a roller-coaster ride, that’s for sure. We’ve had our ups and downs — well, mostly downs when you’re around.

Imagine moving to a brand-new town, thousands of miles away from anyone you know. How would you feel after a few days? Weeks? Months? The feeling of isolation that might gnaw at your heart is similar to what many…

I would like to welcome back my dad, Craig Barbian. Since our discussion in a two-part series last June was so well received, I thought it would be a neat follow-up to have him share more of his…

Anxiety is the secret poison of Parkinson’s disease. While it is not a symptom many people associate with the condition, many of us still suffer from it. What is anxiety? Anxiety involves feelings of worry, nervousness, and unease, typically…

As a 31-year-old, I spend a lot of time on my phone, whether that means talking to my friends, researching something for work, or playing a mindless game. I think about the difference I could make by spending more…

Last in a series. Read part one. I am so honored to have my dad, Craig Barbian, join me again today to continue our discussion from last week about my journey with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Excerpts follow. SF:…